Home / Arts and Entertainment / Jaleel White Faced Fears to Play Myrtle Urkel
Jaleel White Faced Fears to Play Myrtle Urkel
22 Feb
Summary
- Jaleel White found playing Myrtle Urkel uncomfortable initially.
- He cried during his first taping as Myrtle at age 14.
- Wesley Snipes inspired White to reprise the Myrtle character.
Jaleel White, famously known for his role as Steve Urkel on "Family Matters," also took on the challenge of playing members of Urkel's extended family. Among these were his suave alter ego Stefan Urquelle and two cousins, Cornelius Eugene Urkel and Myrtle May Urkel. The latter, a genteel Southern belle, became a fan favorite but was initially a source of discomfort for White.
In 1997, White recounted his early struggles with the Myrtle character, admitting he "hated it" the first time he played her at around 14 years old. The experience was so distressing that he "cried in [his] dressing room all tape night." Consequently, his father informed the show's producers that White would no longer portray Myrtle, citing White's concerns about being ridiculed at school.
Despite his initial reservations, White eventually found the motivation to revisit the role of Myrtle Urkel, crediting Wesley Snipes for the change. It appears Snipes' influence was a significant factor in White's decision to allow the Myrtle character to return to "Family Matters."
